Friday, April 23, 2010

More on the MtP library shenanigans: ANC1C funds study that agrees with ANC1C commissioner

It's time for another chapter in the Mt. Pleasant library fight: recently ANC1C (the Mt. Pleasant Advisory Neighborhood Commission) funded a study into the redesign of the library, and it found pretty much exactly what the District Library Dynamos had been complaining about: the ramp is long and steep, it is unfair because it makes ramp users go to the back of the library, and the alley is too narrow.

However, it should be noted that ANC1C commissioner Chris Otten is also the main spokesperson for the District Library Dynamos. One could argue whether or not it's a conflict of interest, the ANC funding a study that addresses questions brought by a group an ANC commissioner is involved with. Then again, you could argue he's just being active in the neighborhood, but either way, I'm not terribly surprised that the study agrees with the Dynamos' arguments. The City Paper commenters (full disclosure, the first of which is me) make good points too -- how can a wheelchair ramp be both too steep and too long?

12 comments:

That's the first thing I though - how can a ramp be both too steep, and too long, at the same time. Hah! It's either a long ramp with a shallow incline, or a short and steep ramp. the NIMBY crowd is grasping at straws here. I'm sure when the ramp is installed, it will be compliant with the ADA, and the contractor installing it should be experienced in such matters. If it turns out to be a "ramp of death", like that rope footbridge in the Indiana Jones movies, surely it can be adjusted after the fact, and regardless should not delay the long-awaited renovation of the library.

William, you know as well as I that the objections about the wheelchair ramp in the report (which I did read) and alley to the rear are simply a delaying tactic. The MtP anti-everything crowd hopes to win as usual by footdragging, blowing minor issues out of proportion, and making it expensive and time-consuming to make progress. They would seemingly like to preserve the neighborhood in amber, as-is, for all eternity. This does not make for a healthy city! And neither do crumbling libraries. There are kids who desperately need the services a good library can provide, in a safe and modern environment, but are denied that as long as the change-phobic people make their stand.

The Carlos Rosario school housing project is just about the only time I've ever been on the NIMBY side of things - pretty much the only time in the entire 8 years I've lived here. You're the king of NIMBY so I can understand how your sympathize with the MtP opposition.

in cahoots with historic mt pleasnt ...focusing on the ramp will delay the project and give, hysterical mt pleasnt, time to plead their case...and cause further delays...may be even postpone the libray construction indefinitely...fay armstrong used the same tactic to delay the construction needed to make it easier for an elderly couple to access their house on woodridge st in mt pleasant .